Teach Love Louder.

Last night, my husband and I were walking out of Walmart when a group of teenagers passed us.

One of them looked right at us and muttered a slur — “f*ggots.” I don’t even know if they meant it to be cruel, or if it was just a “joke.”

And honestly, that uncertainty is what hurts the most.

Because either way, somewhere along the line, they learned that word —and they learned it was okay to say it. They learned it was something you could throw out casually when you see someone who’s different.

No one is born hateful.

Kids see it. They hear it.

They watch how adults treat other people — the jokes, the looks, the little comments — and they take it all in. That’s why we started The Lavender Project.

Not to change anyone’s beliefs — but to build understanding. To make kindness, empathy, and respect something we all practice out loud. Because the more we show what compassion looks like, the more it grows.

So if you’re reading this, talk to your kids.

Show them kindness in how you speak about others.

Remind them that words matter —

and that everyone deserves to feel safe just being who they are.

Hate is learned.

But so is love. 💜